Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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CHAIR (Senator Mason)
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CHAIR
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—Welcome. The committee will continue its examination of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. You will recall that we

Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
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ACTING CHAIR
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ACTING CHAIR
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—I call the committee to order. We have before us officials from the Office of the Official Secretary to the

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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CHAIR
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CHAIR
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—I welcome Senator Hill, the Minister for Defence and Minister representing the Prime Minister, and officers of the department. Dr Morauta, do you

Australian Public Service Commission
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CHAIR
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CHAIR
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—Welcome. On behalf of the committee, Ms Briggs, can I congratulate you on your recent appointment as the Public Service Commissioner. Ms Briggs, do you have

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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ACTING CHAIR
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ACTING CHAIR
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—The committee welcomes the minister and officers from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Minister, do you or Mr

CHAIR —I welcome back Senator Hill, representing the Prime Minister, and officers of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Could I briefly mention that there is a slight change in the order of proceedings that the committee has agreed to. We will shortly be examining output group 4—Support

Senator ROBERT RAY —I have a couple of questions on Kirribilli House in Sydney. On how many occasions have the Australian Protective Services withdrawn their services there? Mr Henderson —That question would be better directed to the Attorney-General's Department. The PSCC are in charge of the guarding services. Senator ROBERT

CHAIR —We will commence with output group 2, Social policy advice and coordination (Office of Indigenous Policy) followed by ATSIC. We will conclude with the Office of the Status of Women which is also under Output group 2. I propose to proceed by calling on agencies and output groups as

CHAIR —I welcome officers from the Office of the Status of Women, and Senator Herron. Senator CROSSIN —I have a number of questions and I will direct my questions to you, Ms Goward, but I am not sure, in fact, whether Senator Herron is going to be able to help

CHAIR —We are now on to subprogram 1.2, Social policy Office of the Status of Women. I welcome Pru Goward and officers from that office, Mr Henderson, Ms Harrison and Ms Caldwell. Any questions, Senator? Senator MACKAY —I am not quite sure who to direct this to. I have just

CHAIR —I declare open this public hearing of the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee. On 4 March the committee agreed to reopen the examination of supplementary additional estimates in relation to the Prime Minister's portfolio, to further consider component 1.2.3, Office of Indigenous Affairs. I welcome the Minister,

ACTING CHAIR --Are there any questions? Senator ROBERT RAY --I tried to do this with Treasury but they
were a bit vague on it. You probably were not watching that; you were
probably waiting here to come on. I was trying to establish under what
authority the Secretary to the Treasury can commission

Senator FAULKNER --I want to go back to an issue I raised at the
first round of the additional estimates hearings about whether the
Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is required
to make a contribution towards the cost of his temporary accommodation and,
if not, why that was so.

Senator LUNDY --What assessment has the Public Service and Merit
Protection Commission made of the reduction in public sector employment? Senator Hill --In what context? Senator LUNDY --A broad assessment in terms of the impact on the
overall service provision. Dr Shergold --The assessment we would have made is that the
downsizing is